Del Mar Sans Kids

Well, we did it; for the first time in seven years, Gary and I went on a vacation without the kids. No midnight wakings, no bum wiping, no chicken nuggets and mac n cheese, no housekeeping of any kind... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. And where better to do it than Del Mar? THANK YOU Mom and Dad for giving up one of your weeks for us - it was paradise! And thank you Christy and Spencer Knight for coming with us - I always knew it would be fun to travel together! Let's start planning the next one! Thailand 2015?

Here's our villa at the Grand Del Mar - 5300 SF of unparalleled and unabashed luxury. We took advantage of staying in the master suite this time - the exercise room and office came in handy! As did the private balcony with fireplace.

This pic is a montage representing some of the hightlights of our very low key weekend: yummy cheese and boulangerie bread; fresh fruit on the terrace overlooking the pool in the morning; a great new book (School of Essential Ingredients) and movie (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium), games (Ticket to Ride - Christy slaughtered both times!), ambiance... I forgot to throw my temple recommend on there, and tennis and golf balls or some sun screen, but you get the picture...

Afternoon gelato in the Gallery.

San Diego temple (we were witness couple!) and my best Roys dining experience EVER - beef wontons with spicy sauce, the perfect macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi with roasted potatoes and asparagus, and both the chocolate souffle and pineapple upside down cake for dessert. I could have cried it was so good. As it was I liked my plate clean. Well, almost. Gary actually did though, it was that good!

Other memorable moments: the Frustrated Cowboy (a store in del Mar that put us in hysterics just because of its name); lunch by the pool; pseudomedijazz; monster tennis; the MASSAGE!; Dan In Real Life; Thai wife beater drippings soup (our only bad food experience); crepes and pastries at Champagne bistro; and not having to find a babysitter or rush home for bedtime the entire time! yahoo!

And thank you so much to Stephanie and Trevin Ricks for watching our kids! You are our heroes - we owe you one! or ten! and some caramel cookie bars on top! It was lovely to come home refreshed and energized to our sweet kids. Thanks for the welcome home poster!